Egbert smith looker



(No Model.)

B. s. LOOKER.

SEWING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 19, 1887.

WITNESSES cal plane, or its second position.

detail perspective view of the universal hinged- UNITED STATES ROBERT SMITH 'LOOK ER,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF SPRINGFIELD, GHIO.

SEWING-MACHINE.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No 361,427, dated April 19, 1887.

Application filed December '7, 1393. Renewed August 4, 1886. Serial No. 210,031. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT SMITH LOOKER, of Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the'accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

My invention relates to a hinged or swinging face-plate for sewing-machines; and it cons'ists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described, and definitely'pointed out inthe claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a face-plate in combination with the head of the arm, which may be first opened and swung back in a horizontal plane and then turned and raised in a vertical plane, together with the parts contained therein.

Afurther object of my invention is to so construct the face-plate that it may be swung away from the bed-plate and' leave a clear, open, unobstructed space which will admit of free access to the feed and shuttle mechanism below the bed plate, and whereby cumbersome articles to be operated upon may be readily and easily placed upon the bed-plate under the needle and presser-foot bars, and also to adjust the needle and rearrange any of the parts in the face-plate which may have become disarranged.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view of the head of the arm and the face-plate, showing the face-plate opened and swung in a horizontal plane, or its first'position. Fig. 2 is a like view showing the face-plate swung in a verti- Fig. 3 is a joint.

The hinge I, for connecting the arm-head H.

journal of a stud-bolt, 1 passes, and within which it freely turns. Theleaf I is screwed fast to the farther side of the arm-head H by short screws passing through holesi i, and the studbolt 1 passes freely through the hub l and screws into the adjoining side of the faceplate H, by which means the face-plate maybe first swung in a horizontal plane to the position shown in Fig. 1, and then turned in a vertical plane upon the stud-bolt to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the needle may be convenientlyadjusted and threaded, and the face-plate may be in position to afford access to the interior parts, which consist in this instance of the needle-bar K, presser-foot bar L, and take-up lever M. The needle-bar is made to slide in ways which will permit its outer surface to be flush with the inner surface of the face-plate, and is held injsueh a position as to prevent it from dropping out of its seat by a half-headed stud-bolt, k, that screws into the face-plate. By giving the stud-bolt a half-turn the half -head will be placed from over the needle-bar and allow it to be removed when desired.

When the hinged face-plate is restored to its closed position upon the fixed arm-head, it may be held securely in said closed and work- .ing position by a hook, L, or other suitable locking device.

The above construction having been carefully followed out, the operation of my improved device is as follows: The loop or hook, or any other suitable fastening which may secure the hinged face-plate to the head of the arm,is uufastened from an eye on the movable faceplate, and the said face-plate is then swung in a horizontal plane away from the feed and needle-hole plate, carrying with it the presserfoot and needle bars. The face-plate can now be turned in a raised or vertical plane by taking hold of the same and turning it on the pivotal portion of the hinge. The pivotal portion of the hinge now acts as an axis, and the face-plate can be turned in a circle, if necessary, or to any required distance. To cause the faceplate to resume its normal position, it is turned back until it is in a vertical line with the head of the arm, and then swung in its horizontal plane, and engages with the pins on the head of the arm, and the mechanism will assume its normal position with relation to the feed and needle-hole plate.

It is obvious that many minor details of con- IOO struction could be substituted for those shown and described Without in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a sewing-machine, the combination, with a fixed arm, of a face-plate hinged thereto and adapted to be swung in a horizontal and also in a vertical plane, substantially as described, whereby the face-plate may be placed in a horizontal position with its inner face upper-most.

2. In a sewing-machine, the combination, with the hinged face-plate, of a needle-bar fitted in ways upon the inner face thereof, and a locking device secured to the faceplate to hold the needle-bar in its Ways or permit it to he removed therefrom, substantially as described.

3. In a sewing-machine, the combination, with the face-plate and the head of the arm, of a pivotal hinge having a leaf, and an car carrying a pivot'screw, the said parts being secured to the face-plate and the head of the arm, whereby the face-plate may swing in a horizontal and then in a vertical plane, substantially as described.

4. In a sewing-machine, the combination of the head of the arm H, face-plate H, pivotal hinge I, having a leaf, I, and an ear, 1 carrying a pivot, 1 a locking device for clamping the needle-bar, as k, and means for securing the face-plate to the head of the arm, all arranged in such manner as to permit the faceplate to be turned first in a horizontal plane and then in a vertical plane, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of November, A. 1'). 1883.

ROBERT SMITH LOOKER.

\Vitnesses:

WM. H. Rowe, JA MES K. DICCATHRAN. 

